Gone are the days of struggle building your own gaming pc. With the new prebuilt gaming PCs, you get all the power you need without hurting your wallet. Plus, with add-ons such as customer support, warranties, and discounts, going prebuilt is the way to go.
If you’re nervous about getting one, we completely understand. Gaming PCs are an investment that requires special decisions. If you need some help deciding or justifying a choice, then you’re in luck.
Read on and discover the ultimate guide to PC gaming. This gaming PC guide will help you figure out what to look for to find the perfect PC for you. Even better, this holy grail of PC guides also functions as a gaming PC buying guide
So, strap on your seatbelts and get ready to find the gear you need. Here are several specs you need to know to level up your gaming.
Don’t Break the Bank
A gaming PC guide isn’t complete unless it’s honest with you. Honestly, gaming PCs don’t grow on trees and you need to know how much you are willing to spend. As with most things, the more you spend, the better the product usually is.
Before you start telling yourself that you’d rather build one instead, hold on a second. Building a gaming PC takes time, effort, and no small amount of cash as well. Plus, if this is your first time building, the odds of your components crashing rises exponentially.
Components such as powerful processors, graphic cards, and cooling systems need testing instead of theory crafting. Nothing is worse than paying for expensive parts only to have the rest of your PC crashing. Instead, aim for a brand-built PC that is a lot cheaper than you think.
Most gaming PCs are cheaper today with advances in processor technology and other hardware. Plus, if you have enough cash, a premium gaming PC is a solid investment. Not to mention, you get access to customer support, possible replacements, and a community of other gamers.
You have some amazing options below the thousand-dollar mark with great brands and lineups. Choose between different sizes, from small PCs to Full towers depending on your budget. Some brands have dedicated gaming brands with great deals such as Legion PCs from Lenovo.
The Brains of the Operation
Your CPUs processing power will handle almost everything about your game’s performance. Most games need a good CPU to handle their software and programs. A good CPU is also essential when it comes to overclocking or pushing your system’s limits.
In the processor game, you have two main options, either an Intel processor or an AMD Ryzen alternative. These are solid enough processors with current variants reaching up to 9 generations. Keep in mind however that you must set a standard of fifth-gen processors at the least.
If you must choose between AMD or Intel, there are several things you need to know. The first among these is your budget as AMD processors are generally cheaper. When it comes to performance, both brands have processors with Intel pulling slightly ahead on higher-end chips.
Consider getting an AMD chip for midrange gaming as you are likely getting more cores and better functionality. Meanwhile, Intel may not have as much value but have expensive chips that work like a beast. It’s also worthy to note that many new CPUs and chips are under development now.
It’s also a good rule of thumb to remember that the more cores your processor has, the better it will run. A four-core CPU will run better than a dual-core CPU and most gaming devices average at around six to eight cores. This is also a great way to know how much you can multitask, which is important for programs such as video editing.
What You See Is What You Get
Graphics are the second most important part of gaming devices after CPUs. A good graphic processing unit or GPU, and a good display are equally important for games to run. This is because running graphics are the most intense part of game programs.
When you choose your screen display, there are a few things you’ll need to know. These are factors such as your refresh rate and resolution. Most games have recommended settings according to these, and if you don’t meet them, expect a crash.
Refresh rate refers to the number of times your screen can redraw an image per second. A higher refresh rate gives games smoother gameplay. Opt for a 120hz or a 144hz refresh rate for the best performance and experience.
Your resolution indicates how many pixels appear on your screen and thus how much detail it can cram. A 1080p is standard for most laptops, but you may choose a 1440p or even a 4k display. Do note that higher displays require more power and cooling to run well.
GPUs such as the RTX 3080 power your screen and create pixels for display. Higher-end GPUs can fit with higher refresh rates and resolutions. This makes it a necessity for your screen and GPU to work well together, which makes building PCs a risky business.
GPU prices rise the higher the quality of the unit. For gaming at 1440p, aim for the Nvidia RTX 2060. If you absolutely must go lower, settle for nothing but the GTX 1650.
Don’t Skimp on Storage
To play a game on your gaming PC, you need to know how many games you can store on it. As games rise in price and quality, they need more storage from you. Make sure that you update your storage space unless you only plan on storing a few games.
As most people don’t play a new game every day, you want to fit your PC at a solid level of storage. Most PCs have up to 1 terabyte of storage on them with 500 gigabytes as the average. To make the most out of your budget, pick 500-gigabyte storage and put the rest of your money into other parts.
To fully optimize your storage, aim to get yourself an SSD that is faster when it comes to retrieving data. A solid-state drive will store the same amount of data as a hard disk drive with less space needed. If you want to sink money into storage, this must be your top priority.
If you need more space, you can invest in another hard disk drive for your PC. Ensure that the HDD only stores files and other documents and not games or your OS. Keeping your games and OS in your SSD translates into faster boot time.
Designed for Gamers
There are many prebuilt PC brands around, but few of these specialize in gaming. Whichever brand you support is likely going to differ depending on your aesthetic. Different brands have different designs and some of them appeal differently.
If you want a certain design for your PC, you may have to depend on brands to do so. The upside is that these are likely more colorful than a built PC case. These are also likely recognizable if you wish to show off.
For a solid gaming aesthetic of fast aggressive colors, Acer has the Predator lineup. This emphasizes power in its red and black colors and details. For a gamer aesthetic that is more subdued checkout ASUS Republic of Gamers.
If you want a design that is stylish and more formal, get the Legion lineup from Lenovo. With a crisp metallic design, the PC is sleek and geometrically pleasing to see.
The best thing about these brands is that PCs come with their own warranty and tech support. You can also avail of many bonuses that are only offered to repeat buyers. If you want a safe buy, get a branded prebuilt PC.
Peripheral Power
A big part of buying a gaming PC is in its peripherals. These include your mouse, keyboard, headphones, and other accessories. These are very important parts that allow for the best interaction with your computer.
Buying these cheap come with buying a prebuilt Pc. This is because they are often offered at a discounted price when you buy the PC. These are likely primed for support and use with the PC you bought.
That overall means better gameplay and experience for you when you choose to play. If you have any other needs such as extra ports or a backup mouse, buying in bulk will save you more money.
Get the Complete Gaming PC Guide!
With this gaming PC guide, you’re now ready to start on a new step for your gaming journey. Find a gaming PC that suits you based on the specs you want above! Arm yourself for your next adventure, and remember, good luck, have fun!
If you enjoyed reading this gaming PC build guide for beginners, we invite you to come and check out our posts all about gaming! Gaming is a step-by-step process and you’ll always need to keep growing. We’ve got more great content for you to discover!
According to Fortune Business Insights™, The global gaming market is projected to grow from $229.16 billion in 2021 to $545.98 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 13.20% in the forecast period, 2021-2028.